Baseball has evolved significantly from its origins in the late 18th century. The sport developed from rounders and town ball games in England and the United States. Alexander Cartwright is often credited with standardizing the early rules and conventions of baseball in 1845. However, some dispute that Abner Doubleday was the true founder. The first officially recorded baseball game took place on June 19, 1846 between the Knickerbockers and the New York Nine. Over time, baseball grew into a popular professional sport played by both children and adults today.